Day 154 : Compromise

1st October 2013
No miles

I decided today upon a compromise that should allow me to finish my hike. Over the last few days the weather conditions have gotten worse and worse, with so sign of improvement. Information fact the weather is supposed to start to clear from about wednesday, but that actually that does not change.much. Weather aside, the snow is probably.too deep up there.to be crossed in hiking gear in time to escape the next front. Andrew Dinsmore told the hikers.today that someone.from.the local Search and Rescue would be coming to speak to us all on Wednesday to tell us not to hike outstanding  from Steven's Pass/Skykomish. Have decides.already that.i won't do that, for several reasons: a) my knee, although improving slightly, is nowhere near 100% and so i might struggle more than the average hiker and so could put myself.in real danger; b) the window probably wouldn't be long enough to make it to the border so I'd be stuck again but this time closer to the border; and finally d) the conditions are very bad out there, and to go out into them thinking i am an invincible hiker and then to call for help would mean putting other people at risk due to my own arrogance. The other none hiking reason I've decided to not hike from.Steven's Pass that it is driving me crazy sitting here doing nothing having the same cyclical conversation again and again and again with all through assembled hikers. I have therefore decided to hitch up towards Winthrop, a small.town close.to the Canadian border on Hwy 20 which leads up to the trail at Rainy Pass. I have heard that there are two lower route options being considered by the multitude of hikers encamped at this town, and i plan on tagging along with one if these groups. I said goodbye to Jerry and Andrea Dinsmore thanking them profusely for everything they had done, and set about hitching across the mountains towards Winthrop. It took all day to get to a place called Chelan, at the bottom of a lake of the same name. The town and lake are of little consequence, except.for the fact that at the other end of the lake lies Stehekin. Stehekin is the last town on the trail before Canada. It is only accessible by trail, plane, or by a 4 hour boat ride up the lake. It is supposed to be a beautiful place, but i won't be going there so i am trying not to think about it. Many hours later i had made it to Winthrop, thanks largely to DishCloth who came to pick me up from Chelan. Winthrop, being the closest town to the trail accessible by road was full of hikers waiting out the weather. The weather showed no real signs of abating, with groups of hikers being turned back everyday, today being no exception. Arriving so late i didn't really have an opportunity to influence plans, so just decided to.go along with whatever was planned.for tomorrow as i started the push to the Canadian border.